Nail clipper with receiver for clippings



Nov. 3, 1964 TSUTOMU OKUNO 3,154,850

NAIL CLIPPER WITHRECEIVER FOR CLIPPINGS Filed Dec. 27, 1962 INVENTOR. TSUTOMU OKUNO FIG. 6 5.4221 Q .m

ATTORNEY United States Patent NAIL CLIPPER WZLTH FUR CLZPFL NGS Tsutomu Ohuno, 2% -chome, Eiataecho llrunolru, G-salra, Japan Filed Dec. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 247,653 2 Claims. (Cl. 3028) The present invention relates generally to the field of cutting instruments, and more particularly to a combination nail clipper and nail clippings receptacle. In the past, the use of nail clippers has been extensive, but while such devices have been compact and easy to carry, one disadvantage thereof has been that the clippings resulting from their use frequently scatter about, often falling on the floor or other surface, which makes them difficult to retrieve for placing in a waste receptacle.

A major object of the present invention is to provide a combination nail clipper and receptacle for nail clippings resulting from the use thereof which is attractive in appearance, of simple structure, and can be fabricated at a relatively low cost.

Another object of the invention is to supply a combination nail clipper and nail clippings receptacle that is so constructed that the receptacle can be easily removed therefrom when it contains clippings, or the clippings may be discharged from the receptacle by simply placing the combination clipper and receptacle in an inverted position.

A still further object of the invention is to furnish a combination nail clipper and nail clippings receptacle in which the components of the clipper so cooperate with the receptacle as to removably hold it in a desired nail clipping position within the confines of the clipper.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a com ination nail clipper and nail clippings receptacle, the use of which is readily apparent, and due to the low production cost thereof, it may be retailed at a sufiiciently low price as to encourage the widespread use thereof.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred form thereof, and from the accompanying drawing illustrating that form in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the clipper in an inoperative condition in which it is normally carried by the owner;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the device, taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse, cross-sectional view of the invention taken on line 3-3 of 2;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the receptacle and a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of the clipper taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a portion of the receptacle and clipper taken on line 55 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the nail clippings receptacle when outside of the nail clipper.

With continuing reference to the patent drawing for the general arrangement of the invention, it will be seen in FIGURES 1 and 2 to include first and second elongate members A and B respectively. The first member A has a first end portion 10 and a second end portion 12. The second member B also has a first end portion 14 and a second end portion 16. As may best be seen in EEG- URE 2, the end portions 1%) and 14 are preferably straight and in abutting contact, by a rivet 18 or other suitable fastening means. end portion it) is preferably longer than the end portion 14, as also shown in FlGURE 2. The projecting part of the first end portion it) pr ferably has a bore 2%) extending therethrough to permit the invention to be supported from a key chain, or the like.

The balance of the members A and B forwardly of the 3,154,859 Patented Nov. 3, 1964 ice first end portions 1% and 14, which are generally identified by the numerals 22 and 24 respectively, taper outwardly from one another (FIGURE 2). The second end portions 12 and 16 of members A and B support transverse blades 26 and 23 respectively, which are preferably formed as an integral part thereof. The first and second members A and B are formed of a stiff but resilient material, such as steel or the like, and when not deformed by externally applied forces, at all times tend to remain in the first position shown in FIGURE 2. When members A and B are in the first position mentioned, the blades and 2d are spaced apart sufiiciently to permit a fingernail or toenail (not shown) to be inserted therebetween.

A rod 3-9 extends upwardly from member B (FIG- URES 2 and 3) to pass through an opening 32 formed in the first member A. Rod 30 may actually be a portion of a bolt that includes a head 34. When such a bolt is used, an opening 36 is formed in member B and the rod projecting upwardly therethrough, with the head 34 abutting against the exterior surface of member B. A transverse slot 38 is formed in the forward portion of rod 30, which slot has a concave upper surface 40.

An actuating handle C is provided, which as may best be seen in FEGURES 1 and 2, has an elongate portion 42 that in longitudinal cross section is a compound curve, and the forward end of portion 42 develops into a transverse cam surface 4 from which two laterally spaced legs 46 project. A rearwardly extending recess 48 is defined between legs 46 that is wider than the diameter of rod 3d. The two legs 45 support a transverse bar 56 therebetween that engages the concave surface 49 of the slot 38. The handle C as well as the rod 34) can be rotated to a position from that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, with the handle then being pivoted rearwardly on the invention to place the cam surface 44 in contact with the outer surface of the first member A. By downward movement of the handle C when in this position, towards first member A, the first member is moved towards the second member B. Also concurrent movement of the first blade 26 towards the second blade 28 takes place to sever a fingernail situated between the two blades. Movement of the balance 22 of member A towards the second member B is made possible due to the resiliency of the material defining the first member.

A receptacle D for nail clippings is provided, as may best be seen in FIGURE 6. Receptacle D is preferably formed from a polymerized resin, and includes first and second legs 52 and 54 respectively that taper outwardly from one another and are joined at first end portions thereof by a rounded apex portion 56. Leg 52 has first flanges S3 of identical structure extending downwardly from the longitudinal sides thereof. Leg 54 is slightly narrower than leg 52, and has second flanges 60 extending upwardly from the longitudinal sides thereof. The flanges S8 and 60 are in slidable contact and close the sides of the receptacle D when it is disposed within the confines of the arms A and B as best seen in FIG- URE 2.

Each of the legs 52 and 54 has a rearwardly extending passage 62 formed therein that is preferably slightly narrower than rod 3%. Each passage 62 terminates in a circular opening 64 that is slightly larger in diameter than that of rod 3% The receptacle D is removably inserted between the arms A and B by forcing the rod through passages 62 into the openings 64. The material on each side of passages 62 deforms transversely as the rod 30 is forced therethrough.

Once the rod 3% is inside the openings 64, it is removably anchored at one point relative to the arms A and B. To prevent any pivotal movement of the receptacle D relative to rod 30, arid to removably hold it in a longitudinally aligned position between arms A and B, the

lower rear portion of the arm 54 is formed with a downwardly extending dimple 66. A small cavity 68 is formed in the rear upper section of leg 54, and is of such cross section and depth as to removably receive dimple 66 when it is inserted therein. Two vertically extending small ribs 70 are preferably formed on the flanges 58, as may best be seen in FIGURE 6. Either one of the ribs 70 may be engaged by a thumb or fingernail (not shown) to assist in removing the receptacle 1) from between arms A and B, or in disposing the receptacle between the arms.

Operation of the invention is extremely simple. The receptacle D is removably inserted between the arms A and B to occupy the position shown in FIGURE 2. The clipper is then used to cut oil fingernails or toenails by sequentially inserting the same in the space between the blades 26 and 28. As is well known, fingernails and toenails are arcuate in cross section, as well as the clippings severed therefrom. The nail cuttings are disposedrerawardly of the blades 26 and 28, and due to their arcuate configuration, have little or no tendency to move forwardly through the space between the blades, even when it is of maximum width, as shown in FIG- URE 2.

Flanges 58 and 60 extend forwardly sufficiently so that a very small space is formed between the forward edges of the flanges and rear surfaces of the blades 26 and 28. Whether the space is of maximum or minimum width, it is too small to permit nail clippings to escape therethrough from the receptacle D. Thus, it will be seen that nail clippings cut by the blades 26 and 28 will be held within the confines of the receptacle D, irrespective of the position occupied by the clipper at the time it is used to trim a fingernail or toenail.

The receptacle D with the clippings contained therein is easily removed from the clipper by disengaging the dimple 66 from the cavity 63, pivoting the receptacle outwardly, and then disengaging the receptacle from the rod 30 as previously explained in detail. Receptacle D is then placed in an inverted position to discharge the clippings (not shown) into a waste container, and the receptacle then re-inserted in the clipper in the manner described above whereby the clipper is again ready for use.

Although the present invention is fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment thereof and I do not mean to be limited to the details of construction herein shown and described, other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. For use with a nail clipper having first and second elongate members that are rigidly connected .at first ends thereof and tapering away from one another toward their second ends which support opposing cutting blades, a rod extending from a second member through an opening formed in said first member, and with a handle movably supported from said rod for moving the second ends of said first and second members towards one another to clip a nail interposed between said blades; a nail clippings receptacle in which clippings are deposited, said receptacle having:

(a) first and second elongate legs which taper outwardly from one another to be removably disposed in a space between said first and second nail clipper members, with a forward end portion of each of said legs having a longitudinally extending passage formed therein that terminates in an opening for removably engaging said rod, said first leg being slightly wider than said second leg;

(12) resilient means for connecting the rear end portions of said legs;

(c) pairs of first and second flanges that extend towards one another from longitudinal sides of said legs, which pairs of flanges are in frictional contact and of such dimensions that major portions thereof overlap one another, with the width between the external surfaces of said first pair of flanges being such that said receptacle may be completely disposed within the confines of said space between said nail clipper members; and

(d means projecting from one of said legs for removably engaging a recess formed in that one of said nail clipper members most adjacent said means, which means and said rod cooperatively prevent in: advertent displacement of said receptacle from said nail clipper.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 which further includes:

(a) means projecting outwardly from one of said first flanges that may be engaged by a user to separate said receptacle from said nail clipper.

References fitted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,239,861 Arcus Sept. 11, 1917 2,620,560 Bahr Dec. 9, 1952 2,837,821 David June 10, 1958 2,887,773 Killen May 26, 1959 2,995,820 Pocoski Aug. 15, 1961 3,013,334 Bassett Dec. 19, 1961 

1. FOR USE WITH A NAIL CLIPPER HAVING FIRST AND SECOND ELONGATE MEMBERS THAT ARE RIGIDLY CONNECTED AT FIRST ENDS THEREOF AND TAPERING AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER TOWARD THEIR SECOND ENDS WHICH SUPPORT OPPOSING CUTTING BLADES, A ROD EXTENDING FROM A SECOND MEMBER THROUGH AN OPENING FORMED IN SAID FIRST MEMBER, AND WITH A HANDLE MOVABLY SUPPORTED FROM SAID ROD FOR MOVING THE SECOND ENDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEMBERS TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER TO CLIP A NAIL INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID BLADES; A NAIL CLIPPINGS RECEPTACLE IN WHICH CLIPPINGS ARE DEPOSITED, SAID RECEPTACLE HAVING: (A) FIRST AND SECOND ELONGATE LEGS WHICH TAPER OUTWARDLY FROM ONE ANOTHER TO VE REMOVABLY DISPOSED IN A SPACE BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND NAIL CLIPPER MEMBERS, WITH A FORWARD END PORTION OF EACH OF SAID LEGS HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PASSAGE FORMED THEREIN THAT TERMINATES IN AN OPENING FOR REMOVABLY ENGAGING SAID ROD, SAID FIRST LEG BEING SLIGHTLY WIDER THAN SAID SECOND LEG; (B) RESILIENT MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE REAR END PORTIONS OF SAID LEGS; (C) PAIRS OF FIRST AND SECOND FLANGES THAT EXTEND TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER FROM LONGITUDINAL SIDES OF SAID LEGS, WHICH PAIRS OF FLANGES ARE IN FRICTIONAL CONTACT AND OF SAUCH DIMENSION THAT MAJOR BETWEEN THEREOF OVERLAP ONE ANOTHER, WITH THE WIDTH BETWEEN THE EXTERNAL SURFACES OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF FLANGES BEING SUCH THAT SAID RECEPTACLE MAY BE COMPLETELY DISPOSED WITHIN THE COMFINES OF SAID SPACE BETWEEN SAID NAIL CLIPPER MEMBERS; AND (D) MEANS PROJECTING FROM ONE OF SAID LEGS FOR REMOVABLY ENGAGING A RECESS FORMED IN THAT ONE OF SAID NAIL CLIPPER MEMBEDRS MOST AJACENT SAID MEANS, WHICH MEANS AND SAID ROD COOPERATIVELY PREVENT INADVERENT DISPLACEMENT OF SAID RECEPTACLE FROM SAID NAIL CLIPPER. 